periodo
“periodo” means “period” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
period, time
Also: phase, duration
📝 In Action
El periodo de construcción duró tres meses.
A1The construction period lasted three months.
Necesitamos un periodo de prueba antes de decidir.
A2We need a trial period before deciding.
Este es un periodo muy importante para la compañía.
B1This is a very important time for the company.
term, quarter
Also: semester
📝 In Action
El primer periodo escolar comienza en septiembre.
B1The first school term starts in September.
Solo quedan dos minutos en el último periodo del partido.
B2There are only two minutes left in the last quarter of the game.
El presidente tiene un periodo de mandato de cuatro años.
B2The president has a four-year term of office.
period
Also: menstrual cycle
📝 In Action
Mi periodo siempre llega el mismo día.
B2My period always arrives on the same day.
Durante su periodo, ella prefiere descansar.
B2During her period, she prefers to rest.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "periodo" in Spanish:
cycle→duration→interval→menstrual cycle→period→phase→quarter→revolution→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: periodo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'periodo' to refer to an academic or governmental time frame?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *periodus*, which itself originated from the Greek *periodos*. The original Greek meaning was 'going around' or 'circuit' (peri- meaning 'around' and hodos meaning 'way' or 'journey'), reflecting the cyclical nature of time or events.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'periodo' the same as 'hora' (hour/class)?
No. While 'periodo' refers to a duration of time, in a school setting, 'periodo' usually means the entire semester or term. A single class session is usually called 'la clase' or 'la hora de clase'.
Why is 'periodo' masculine if it relates to 'periodicidad' (feminine)?
'Periodo' is a masculine noun because of its direct derivation from the Greek/Latin form, which ended in a masculine marker. Even though its related abstract noun 'periodicidad' (periodicity) ends in '-dad' and is feminine, 'periodo' must always be used with masculine articles (el, un).